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Travelers Canada Announces Results of Distracted Driving Risk Survey

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV ) today announced the results of the 2024 Travelers Canada Distracted Driving Risk Survey.

Almost half of the Canadian drivers surveyed said they believe roads are less safe than they were a year ago. In fact, most acknowledged engaging in some form of distracted driving, with nearly one-third saying they had been in an accident or had a “near miss” because of their own distracted driving.

The most common types of distracted driving include:

• Reading directions or looking at maps: 72 per cent.
• Talking on the phone using hands-free technology: 67 per cent.
• Eating or drinking: 60 per cent.

“The risk of distracted driving is real and yet entirely preventable,” said Paul Stone, Vice President of Personal Insurance, Sales, Distribution & Marketing, Travelers Canada. “Thankfully, there are simple steps all drivers can take to reduce the risk for everyone on the road, such as setting a mobile device to ‘do not disturb’ mode or leaving a little earlier to avoid rushing to a destination.”

Workplace driving policies matter

Work-related pressure could also be contributing to distracted driving. Among Canadian drivers, 31 per cent said they make work-related calls, texts or emails while driving. Within that group, 44 per cent said they respond because it might be a work emergency, while another 32 per cent said they always need to be available.

Instituting workplace policies that encourage safe driving habits for employees may help minimize risk. More than four-in-five respondents (82 per cent) whose employer has an official distracted driving policy said they comply with it.

Speaking up promotes safer driving habits

Even though conversations about unfocused driving can be uncomfortable, many Canadians said they would be less likely to use a mobile device while driving if a passenger asked them to stop.

• Respondents said they are most comfortable speaking up to a spouse/partner (42 per cent), friend (25 per cent) or parent/guardian (16 per cent).
• They are most apprehensive speaking up to a taxi/rideshare driver (9 per cent), co-worker (8 per cent) or boss/manager (2 per cent).

Parents can help support young drivers

The survey found that 61 per cent of Canadian parents are concerned about their children’s inattentive driving behaviours. Younger drivers, aged 18 to 34, are more likely than the overall population to frequently or sometimes use an interactive map, record videos, take photos, check social media and text, receive calls, shop online or order food, according to the survey results.

Nearly one-in-three Canadian parents said they frequently talk to their teen and young adult drivers about the risks of distracted driving.

“There are three things parents can do to prepare teens and young drivers for the road,” Stone said. “Be a role model, be supportive and stay involved.”

Travelers Canada offers tips and resources that can help teach new drivers about road safety and how to reduce the risk of accidents.

Incentives can help drivers stay focused behind the wheel

Travelers promotes safe driving habits through its IntelliDrive® product that uses a smartphone app to monitor driving performance. Enrollees could save up to 30 per cent on car insurance by demonstrating safe driving behaviour. On the other hand, riskier driving habits may result in a higher premium.

For more information about the survey and ways to reduce distracted driving, please visit TravelersCanada.ca .

About the Travelers Canada Distracted Driving Risk Survey

These findings are from a survey conducted by Travelers Canada from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, 2024, among a representative sample of 1,000 online Canadians between ages 18 and 69 who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/-3.10 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

About Travelers Canada

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV ) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto , home and business . A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has more than 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $41 billion in 2023. Travelers Insurance Company of Canada, The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company and St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (Canada Branch) are the Canadian licensed insurers known as Travelers Canada. For more information, visit TravelersCanada.ca .

Media: Sara Ametrano, 416-457-7973 [email protected]

Janette Baxter, 860-954-3869 [email protected]

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240425986357/en/

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Travel Insurance For Canada: What You Need To Know Before You Go

Updated: Apr 30, 2024, 1:13pm

Table of Contents

Do you need travel insurance for canada, what type of travel insurance do you need, what does travel insurance for canada cover, what does travel insurance exclude, best travel insurance for canada, frequently asked questions (faqs).

From hiking trails in Ontario to traversing the slopes of the famous ski resort town of Whistler, there is no shortage of places to visit in Canada.

The vast North American country is a popular destination for travel-loving Aussies. In addition to a growing share of business travelers, more than 350,000 Australian tourists typically visit Canada each year.

While visitor numbers faded during the Covid-19 pandemic, the multitude of Australians heading to the Great White North has picked up in the last two years, particularly to experience the country’s stunning landscape.

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Travel insurance for Canada isn’t compulsory, but it’s highly recommended to cover for any lost or stolen baggage, the possibility of your trip getting cancelled due to an emergency, illness such as Covid-19 or bereavement, and to cover medical expenses.

The Australian Government’s Smartraveller website recommends that travellers purchase travel insurance before any overseas trip.

As in any foreign country, medical care in Canada can be expensive for visitors, with a visit to a doctor potentially setting you back by hundreds of dollars.

The Australian government won’t cover these costs, and there is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between Australia and Canada, so you aren’t covered by Australian Medicare either.

In addition, given the large geography of the country covering a variety of destinations from beaches to mountains to national parks, it is wise to hold insurance cover for a multitude of events and a variety of potential risks including natural disasters, crime or other types of emergencies.

International travel cover for Canada is generally available in the following ways:

Basic travel insurance

This type of policy is broadly focused on cover for unlimited overseas emergency medical expenses, but also includes insurance for luggage, personal liability and other essential benefits. It is usually the cheapest option available and is suitable for those traveling on a budget or for single trips.

Comprehensive travel insurance

This type of insurance typically includes higher amounts of cover for the essentials benefits such as medical expenses, luggage, personal liability, and so on. In addition, it includes cover for travel delays, rental vehicle excess, loss of passports and credit cards, hijacking, disability, accidental death, and more, depending on your policy.

Some insurers offer variations of the comprehensive policy that are suitable for multiple trips within a 12-month period.

Optional add-on policies

Given the growing number of Australians heading to Canada for cruises, road trips or to the ski slopes, some insurers have come up with add-on policies specifically tailored for a variety of adventure sports and transport options available. These include cruise packs, winter sports packs and even higher cover for rental vehicles.

Related: How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?

Most international travel insurance policies will cover medical and hospital expenses, ambulance transportation, repatriation flights, as well as personal liability if you injure someone, or damage property while you’re in the country.

Policies will also cover, within limits, lost or delayed luggage and possessions, the costs of trip delays, interruptions or cancellations, and lost or stolen travel documents.

Comprehensive policies usually offer a broader cover to include personal accident cover in case of an injury during your trip that leads to permanent disability or death, and insurance excess payment if your rental car meets with an accident.

If you are planning to take advantage of Canada’s vast offering of adventure sports and activities, make sure these are covered by your policy—or that there is an option to add it on.

Most comprehensive policies will include popular sporting and leisure activities such as hiking, surfing, kayaking, and so on. However, more extreme activities such as skydiving, scuba diving, snow skiing or snowboarding will generally require an additional adventure sports cover at extra cost.

Most travel insurance policies to Canada will not provide cover in the following cases:

• Illegal activities: Insurers will reject any claims arising if you knowingly act illegally or dangerously.
• If you are under the influence: Insurance cover is specifically void if you cause a disturbance through drunken behaviour or under the influence of drugs.
• Unattended luggage: Insurers will ignore any claim for loss if your luggage is stolen while it was left unattended in public.
• Pre-existing medical conditions: Insurers can avoid claims for any major medical conditions, if they have not been made aware of these before taking out a policy.
• Extreme sports: International travel insurance policies generally don’t provide automatic coverage for things like extreme sports, snowboarding or surfing. An optional add-on cover is required for these activities.

Most travel insurers in Australia offer insurance policies for travel to Canada. What policy suits you best will depend on your requirements including duration, age, and the type of cover.

It will also be determined by your specific needs, such as whether you are taking part in snow sports or other adventure activities.

An easy way to compare travel insurance policies is to use an online comparison tool, or read through our leading picks of travel insurance policies for Australians . However, always consider whether or not they include the extras you will require for your trip, and any pre-existing medical conditions you would require cover for.

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Do I need travel insurance to travel to Canada?

Travel insurance for Canada isn’t mandatory, but is highly recommended.

The Australian Government urges travellers to purchase travel insurance before any overseas trip, especially for medical cover.

Medical costs can be extremely expensive in a foreign country, especially if you have to visit a doctor, dentist or hospital in an emergency, so travel insurance is very handy.

Does my visa card have travel insurance?

Not every credit card comes with travel insurance. Complimentary travel insurance is typically offered on premium credit or rewards cards that have higher annual fees. In addition, this may not cover all circumstances or emergencies. By comparison, a travel insurance policy will offer more comprehensive coverage that includes emergency medical expenses.

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Prashant Mehra is a freelance journalist based in Sydney. He has more than 20 years of international experience covering financial news, including with Reuters and the Australian Associated Press (AAP). He writes about business, markets, the economy and investing.

Read the fine print: Winnipeg couple's travel insurance claim 'not covered,' insurer says

Flood forced pair to cancel trip, but cancellation coverage didn't include specific event.

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A Winnipeg senior is questioning the value of buying flight cancellation insurance after his claim was denied.

James Parker, 78, and his wife, Rena, bought two tickets on WestJet flights to Calgary last December to visit relatives in January. They purchased the cheapest ticket option knowing they wouldn't get a refund or credit should they need to cancel, so they decided to get cancellation insurance just in case.

The insurance was a cheaper option than the more expensive tickets.

"Pre-COVID, we didn't really buy cancellation insurance," James Parker said.

Because there have been so many delays with airlines since the pandemic, Parker says he thought he would get insurance for peace of mind. After he selected his tickets and seats, he clicked on the box for cancellation insurance.

"It was $117, I think, something like that," he recalled. "It gives me a little bit of peace of mind, you know, so that's what I did."

A few weeks later, he says, they got a call that their accommodations would no longer be available because their relative's condo had flooded and she was forced to move out for six weeks. The Parkers had rented a condo in the building, but were told they would no longer be able to stay there.

WestJet refunded Parker's seat selection, but he was still out $623.72 on the cost of the flight. He filed a claim with Allianz Global Assistance Canada, thinking he would be covered. He was not. 

"I mean, it said cancellation insurance. Quite honestly, I didn't read the fine print," Parker said.

"You would think there would be some leeway … it was impossible for us at the time to to make other arrangements." 

A spokesperson for Allianz Global Assistance says the trip cancellation and interruption plan offered through WestJet does not cover disasters that affect prepaid accommodations at the insured's destination.

"In general, for prepaid travel expenses to be eligible for reimbursement under trip cancellation benefits, the reason for cancellation must be listed as a 'covered reason' within the customer's policy of insurance," wrote Tayjua Squire, manager of corporate communications for Allianz Global.

She said a copy of the policy would have been provided to the customer at time of purchase.

Squire said all travellers should review their policy to understand the scenarios that are covered, and those that are not.

He believed his claim was reasonable and would therefore be reimbursed for the cancelled flights, but later learned if it's not listed as a covered reason no refund is provided.

"I thought it was unfair, and I questioned my idea about what insurance is for," he said.

94% of claims are paid: insurance association

The Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada says a recent survey showed 94 per cent of travel insurance claims are paid.

"The benefits are there for many Canadians when they're purchasing it. It's the unfortunate times when the coverage expectation doesn't line up with the actual wording of the policy," said the association's executive director, Will McAleer. 

He says policies vary and advises purchasers to become familiar with what's covered before boarding the flight. 

"They put policies in and they price them according to the wording that they've got, so it'll cover certain things in one policy, but maybe not another ," McAleer said.

For example, one of the "covered reasons" listed on Allianz Global's website includes a disaster "that renders your pre-booked destination accommodation uninhabitable after you book your trip." In that case, the Parkers would have been covered, but that option was not included in the WestJet policy he purchased.

"It's not unusual for insurers in the Canadian market to have many different policy wordings depending on the partner or the partnership that they're working on. And those can differ in terms of coverages and provisions," McAleer said.

Parker feels he had a valid reason to cancel his trip and should have been covered.

"It's the principle more than the money that is bothering me at the moment," he said, adding travel insurance policies need to be more nuanced.

"I understand it's a business to make money, but I think there should be leeway to deal with changes or modifications that arise, because not everything can be written down, you know? I mean, it's life," Parker said.

He said in the future he would rather buy travel insurance from a local company, and not just tick off a box and hope he will be covered if anything happens.

Winnipegger denied flight refund even though he bought cancellation insurance

About the author.

Investigative Reporter, CBC Manitoba I-Team

Caroline began her career co-hosting an internet radio talk show in Toronto and then worked at various stations in Oshawa, Sudbury and Toronto before landing in Winnipeg in 2007. Since joining CBC Manitoba as a reporter in 2013, she won a Canadian Screen Award for best local reporter, and received a CAJ and RTDNA awards for her work with the investigative unit. Email: [email protected]

• Twitter: @cbarghout
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